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(05-13-2021 03:48 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(05-13-2021 12:23 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(05-13-2021 12:17 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  My guess is Miller was going to pocket one for next year to even out classes anyways...Banks will get to use the open scholarship for a season.

He has kind of done a great job of balancing already though:

Seniors: DeJulius, Newman, Koval
Juniors: Adams-Woods, Banks, Davenport, Oguama
Sophomores: Hensley, Madsen, McGinnis, Saunders
Freshman: Lahkin

If he can get a freshman and senior in here, he kind of has a pretty standard distribution of players, and does allow for him to really be foundational for his program with 4 slots in the next class.

If we max out now, Kovol might be the only open scholarship for the class of 22’. Guessing Wes will want to bring in more than one guy in year #2.

The last thing you want to do is save a scholarship to even out the classes. If high end talent is available you go get it no matter what it does to class balance. There's no guarantee that talent will be there next year. And with this new transfer rule its likely you'll lose a player or two each year anyway.

If a top level guy wants to play at UC, a good coach will find a way to make it work even if the roster is seemingly full. The bottom end guys on the team can be convinced that transferring is in their best interest.

Of course. If there is a guy who walks in as a starter they will find room. They are not just trying to fill out a roster anymore. They will be really selective going forward. But barring a no doubter who is an upgrade over who is here, the staff will likely sit on the one that Banks is using now for an addition next year.

(05-14-2021 01:03 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Of course. If there is a guy who walks in as a starter they will find room. They are not just trying to fill out a roster anymore. They will be really selective going forward. But barring a no doubter who is an upgrade over who is here, the staff will likely sit on the one that Banks is using now for an addition next year.

Bingo.

Plans can always change, but unless a great opportunity comes up, it's a smart play.

I'm guessing Lakhin will be working out in Cincinnati in June and the staff should get a good idea of if he is fully recovered and in good conditioning. Just based on the tape I've seen, I think the guy can play. Like most players new to Division I basketball, he will probably struggle defensively and look lost at times. But I also suspect he will flash some talent that hints at his potential in later seasons. Hope he's good to go. 10 minutes per game is really all we need from him this season barring injuries.

Further regarding our big man depth, one concern I have is that Ody has fouled at a rate similar to guys like Nysier Brooks, Vogt, and Diarra his first two seasons. We're going to need him to stay on the floor to be at our best. Koval seems to foul at a fairly average rate for a big guy, but how he adjusts to the physicality of AAC basketball remains to be seen.

Looking forward to the Ody & Ado show.

(05-17-2021 07:48 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

Great news!

(05-17-2021 08:18 PM)BomberMan Wrote:  

(05-17-2021 07:48 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

Great news!

Well, that happened fast!

Clearly rounding this team out with some men to throw around in the paint against Houston.

(05-17-2021 07:48 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

Listed at 6-11 255. Played 5 years at Miss St. and apparently was leaning towards turning pro per his coach before he decided to take advantage of the COVID rule and play another at UC (per reports anyway). He'll be turning 25 this October (people thought Vogt was old and he's only 22)!

Quote:Ado played in 131 career games for the Bulldogs with 130 of those starts. He averaged 6.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and had 248 career blocks – a total good for third all-time at MSU.

(05-17-2021 09:09 PM)cincy11 Wrote:  

(05-17-2021 08:18 PM)BomberMan Wrote:  

(05-17-2021 07:48 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

Great news!

Well, that happened fast!

Yeah it did. His coach, Howland, said he was going to look into pro opportunities as of late April and wouldn't be back at Miss St. Then he puts his name in the portal a few hours ago and presumably has already decided on coming to UC.

Really nice postgame comments from Howland after a game last year. At least as far as this coming season goes, he's my pick to have the biggest impact among the newcomers.

What Abdul Ado is doing besides blocking shots in Mississippi State basketball's 3-1 SEC start

So that's the 13th and final correct?

(05-17-2021 10:26 PM)bcat1997 Wrote:  So that's the 13th and final correct?

Something tells me they're not quite done.

In a strange twist, Nysier Brooks goes to Mississippi State for his 6th year which may end up pushing Ado to Clifton Heights.

And I agree with Mark. There still may be some turns and twists in the next month.

(05-17-2021 10:40 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  In a strange twist, Nysier Brooks goes to Mississippi State for his 6th year which may end up pushing Ado to Clifton Heights.

And I agree with Mark. There still may be some turns and twists in the next month.

I think Nysier is going to Ole Miss.

(05-17-2021 10:40 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  In a strange twist, Nysier Brooks goes to Mississippi State for his 6th year which may end up pushing Ado to Clifton Heights.

And I agree with Mark. There still may be some turns and twists in the next month.

Graduate transfer center Nysier Brooks has signed to play with Mississippi. The 7-footer, whose signing was announced Tuesday, played last season at Miami. Brooks averaged 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last season while shooting 51.7% from the field.

Looks like he’s physically ready to play and looks very spry defensively for his size.

(05-13-2021 05:36 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(05-13-2021 04:36 PM)bcat1997 Wrote:  

(05-13-2021 09:28 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(05-13-2021 09:25 AM)bcat1997 Wrote:  

(05-13-2021 07:11 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Great news. Fills a critical need on this team.

Hope springs eternal for fans but you have to like what's been added since Miller's arrival combined with the guys that are back. I think we'll see the returning players take their game to the next level in a more positive environment that embraces the traditions of Bearcat defense and toughness. I believe this year's team will surprise many by exceeding what will likely be tepid pre-season expectations.

Not trying to be negative, but I just don't see this roster doing much damage. Hope I'm wrong though.

What do you mean by "too much" damage? I think it's clearly an upgraded, deeper roster from last season. I'm optimistic with development of the guys who have been here and a few new guys proving a good fit, they'll be competing for a tournament bid. I don't think you're going to be watching a team struggle to finish a game over .500.

I think they will do better than a game over .500 as well. Start of last year was a disaster, but not sure how much better they will be. You lose Keith and Tari which will have big impact and I don't think we replaced that talent at same level.

Tari was a loss of talent, but he only averaged 19 minutes and 7 points a game last
year. He had talent, but for most of the year it was unfulfilled. Hensley is just as talented as Eason on paper, and Oguama is more experienced.

Williams wasn't really a top talent IMO. He's a good player, but I don't see a big drop from Williams to the guys who will take most of his minutes (Newman or Madsen).

In my opinion, both keith williams and tari eason were disappointing last season. Williams never seemed to take over leadership on the team as a senior and Tari became a turnover machine the last few games of the season. Williams puzzled me more with the horrible missies of layups and Chris Vogt even lost his hook shot from the previous year and was seeming to just throw a shot up. Time for new blood and let's see what happens.